Post by Freehold Resident on Mar 21, 2007 8:13:06 GMT -5
Artist showcases latest work in Freehold venue
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Artist Chris Robinson, known as Kortez, recently showcased his latest work in the town he calls home.
"I made a conscious decision to make Freehold my creative home," Kortez said. "Even if things take me elsewhere, I would like to look at Freehold as my home and to do creative things here."
Kortez, 39, has been a resident of the borough since 2004.
He has had two shows at Blue Room Studios, a recording studio on West Main Street. The owners of the space, Joe Schodowski and Kerry Ponpeo, have been very supportive, Kortez said.
"I approached them at a time when I was doing a lot of live painting at nightclubs," the artist said. "They said if I wanted to hang up work in their space I was more than welcome to."
Kortez's latest work is still on display at the recording studio and can be viewed by appointment.
Gallery 31, a West Main Street venue Kortez started in 2004 to feature the work of up-and-coming artists, closed its doors last year for financial reasons.
"It is very hard to sell art and Freehold is still a little bit behind the times," Kortez said. "It is still Bruce Springsteen's town. It is not Red Bank. It's not an Asbury Park."
Freehold's art scene is not as diverse as nearby cultural centers, Kortez said, adding that there is a need for a centrally located place where creative people can meet and collaborate.
"One of the things we wanted to accomplish at the recording studio was to develop a network of like-minded individuals, MCs, DJs, musicians, dancers [and] artists to have a place to get together," he said.
Freehold is the home of many DJs, Kortez said, including himself. However, it is an often misunderstood art.
"The b-boy (hip-hop) and DJ culture, the whole music culture where we stand is a lot different than where other people see the role of an artist," he said.
Kortez described his taste in music as eclectic, explaining that it encompasses several forms of African-American dance music, including hip-hop and house music.
"Music is very influential to my painting," he said, adding that he often listens to jazz while creating his work.
Kortez described his latest exhibit as a "celebration of Black History Month through visuals and sounds," adding that the art is influenced by late artist John Kochansky.
"John was one of my best friends," Kortez said. "He passed away last year."
Kochansky and Kortez often critiqued each other's work and experimented together.
"We built a creative camaraderie," the artist said. "Then suddenly, his life was taken from us. As a result, I have been looking back at the time we spent together and the time we spent talking about art and that is what I did. I took the easiest medium I could find and created artwork."
Kortez said he and Kochansky found that being creative does not require expensive materials, adding that the work on display at the recording studio is made from oil sticks, ink and pastels on paper.
Much of Kortez's past work is mixed media and is larger in scale than the new series. He said the smaller pieces make the work more accessible than large canvas pieces, which require more materials and are therefore more expensive.
Artists are at times perceived as a threat, he said, because they are doing what they want to do.
"I am living my dream," Kortez said. "If I die tomorrow, the main focus on the obituary is going to be my artistic lifestyle.
Kortez can be reached at www.myspace.com/artistkortez or at the Cabana Recordings Web site at www.cabanarecordings.com.
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Artist Chris Robinson, known as Kortez, recently showcased his latest work in the town he calls home.
"I made a conscious decision to make Freehold my creative home," Kortez said. "Even if things take me elsewhere, I would like to look at Freehold as my home and to do creative things here."
Kortez, 39, has been a resident of the borough since 2004.
He has had two shows at Blue Room Studios, a recording studio on West Main Street. The owners of the space, Joe Schodowski and Kerry Ponpeo, have been very supportive, Kortez said.
"I approached them at a time when I was doing a lot of live painting at nightclubs," the artist said. "They said if I wanted to hang up work in their space I was more than welcome to."
Kortez's latest work is still on display at the recording studio and can be viewed by appointment.
Gallery 31, a West Main Street venue Kortez started in 2004 to feature the work of up-and-coming artists, closed its doors last year for financial reasons.
"It is very hard to sell art and Freehold is still a little bit behind the times," Kortez said. "It is still Bruce Springsteen's town. It is not Red Bank. It's not an Asbury Park."
Freehold's art scene is not as diverse as nearby cultural centers, Kortez said, adding that there is a need for a centrally located place where creative people can meet and collaborate.
"One of the things we wanted to accomplish at the recording studio was to develop a network of like-minded individuals, MCs, DJs, musicians, dancers [and] artists to have a place to get together," he said.
Freehold is the home of many DJs, Kortez said, including himself. However, it is an often misunderstood art.
"The b-boy (hip-hop) and DJ culture, the whole music culture where we stand is a lot different than where other people see the role of an artist," he said.
Kortez described his taste in music as eclectic, explaining that it encompasses several forms of African-American dance music, including hip-hop and house music.
"Music is very influential to my painting," he said, adding that he often listens to jazz while creating his work.
Kortez described his latest exhibit as a "celebration of Black History Month through visuals and sounds," adding that the art is influenced by late artist John Kochansky.
"John was one of my best friends," Kortez said. "He passed away last year."
Kochansky and Kortez often critiqued each other's work and experimented together.
"We built a creative camaraderie," the artist said. "Then suddenly, his life was taken from us. As a result, I have been looking back at the time we spent together and the time we spent talking about art and that is what I did. I took the easiest medium I could find and created artwork."
Kortez said he and Kochansky found that being creative does not require expensive materials, adding that the work on display at the recording studio is made from oil sticks, ink and pastels on paper.
Much of Kortez's past work is mixed media and is larger in scale than the new series. He said the smaller pieces make the work more accessible than large canvas pieces, which require more materials and are therefore more expensive.
Artists are at times perceived as a threat, he said, because they are doing what they want to do.
"I am living my dream," Kortez said. "If I die tomorrow, the main focus on the obituary is going to be my artistic lifestyle.
Kortez can be reached at www.myspace.com/artistkortez or at the Cabana Recordings Web site at www.cabanarecordings.com.